Bristol (H) 23.3.13

Bristol fought back for a narrow victory against a Jersey side who
were left fuming after being denied a winning score in the final
move of the game.

With time up, Jersey were hammering at the visitors' line and
replacement prop James Gethings forced his way over. The Irishman's
team-mates were convinced the ball had been grounded, but referee
Ross Campbell, after consulting his Assistant, ruled 'held up' and
blew for full time, to the frustration of the majority in a
season-high crowd of 3,074 at St Peter.

"I'm immensely proud of my boys and the effort they put in - I
think they've been defeated because of a poor refereeing decision,"
said Jersey Director of Rugby Ben Harvey.

Harvey's counterpart Andy Robinson, in sole charge for the first
time following the departure of Head Coach Liam Middleton, was
pleased with a win that maintains his side's play-off hopes.

Jersey's Dave Markham wins lineout ball, pic by David
Goodenough

"Credit to Jersey - they put us under pressure and scored a very
good try just before the break, while we bombed a couple of chances
that could have given us the lead," he said. "We showed great team
spirit to get the win in the second half."

The first half saw fly-halves Mike Le Bourgeois and Adrian
Jarvis trade penalties until Jersey seized the initiative just
before half-time, with Bristol's Glen Townson in the sin-bin. Le
Bourgeois started a counter-attack from inside his own half and the
ball was run back at Bristol. Superb hands from backs and forwards
alike eventually enabled Le Bourgeois to make a line break and feed
skipper Nicky Griffiths for the try.

Bristol needed early points and achieved these through two
Jarvis penalties, but Jersey pulled further clear when Guy Thompson
twisted his way over from close range - a huge boost for the home
side who were playing a man short after a yellow card for Fred
Silcock.

Luke Eves set up Bristol's first try, going close before quick
ball reached his centre partner Fautua Otto for the try. And then
with 75 minutes gone, sustained pressure by Bristol ended with
Jarvis jinking over, adding the conversion to complete a 24-point
personal tally.

At one stage Jersey's losing bonus point looked in jeopardy as
the visitors pressed forward again, but the Islanders finished the
stronger and came agonisingly close to snatching the spoils. A
losing bonus point stretched the margin over 12th-placed Doncaster,
whose game at Bedford was postponed, to seven points, but still
leaves both sides' destiny likely to rest on their meeting at St
Peter on April 13th.